Rialto High School band teacher on leave after fighting student

RIALTO -- Rialto High School's band teacher has been out on administrative leave, and students and parents say they can't get any answers about when, or if, he'll be coming back.

A few days before school let out for winter break on Dec. 14, veteran band teacher "Doc" Jack Poster reportedly got into a physical confrontation with some students in his History of Rock and Roll class.

Poster had sent one student out of class after allegedly causing a disruption. Shortly thereafter, he escorted more students outside, after they protested the first ouster. Outside the classroom, things apparently escalated between Poster and the students he'd expelled from his classroom.

The details of what happened aren't clear: There were no direct witnesses other than Poster and the students involved, although Rialto Unified officials confirm that something happened between Poster and at least one student.

"The district is aware of (the incident) and will continue to treat all allegations, seriously," said district spokeswoman Syeda Jafri. "The teacher who was allegedly involved in an altercation with a student was immediately put on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation."

Since then, the band has had a substitute teacher, but some students and parents are concerned about Poster's absence as contest season approaches.

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"Without him, band would be nothing," student Jose Gonzalez told the school board at their Jan. 23 meeting. "It would just be a shell of what it used to be."

"To see him leave the band, I can see the band leaving, too," student Sean Nye said.

"I can't say he was like a father, but like a big brother," student Sergio Mendes said.

Band mother Melissa Wagenhoffer presented the school board with 624 signatures demanding Poster's return - and she'll be back at their next meeting on Tuesday with even more signatures, she said.

"They need him back yesterday," she said later. "Doc, he embraced them, he guided them and sent them on their way."

Poster's supporters are also worried about the upcoming band trip to New York City in April, which has cost band members and their parents more than $40,000 - and is non-refundable.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for some of these kids," Wagenhoffer said. "Some of these kids are never getting out of Southern California (otherwise), let alone the state."

During a meeting with the Daily Bulletin/San Bernardino Sun editorial board on Feb. 6, Rialto Unified school board member Joanne Gilbert said the district's silence is related to "active litigation" surrounding the case. Poster's name did not show up as the plaintiff or complainant in any current court case before the San Bernardino County courts in a search conducted via the court's website.

So the Rialto High band just has to wait.

"Since these situations involve sensitive, personnel matters, it would be premature to disclose any further comment concerning the district's specific responses to (the Poster situation) at this time," Jafri said.

The next Rialto Unified school board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Boyd Elementary, 310 E. Merrill Ave.